Played Puakea right behind Costco in growing neighborhood looks deceivingly nondescript upon entering lot but well stocked friendly clubhouse and busy restaurant (quite a few non golfing patrons) showing its popularity. Weekday afternoon golf, cart, gps, newer set PXGs and range for just over 200. Right away range was well maintained with several targets and new balls set me off to practice green same coming out of maintenance (forwarned) as all courses played this visit. White tees 6061 fairly wide and open front nine but some tricky lies if in wrong areas with tough make up and downs if missed. Blind second shot with lake in play on third hole look before shot and signature big drop par 3 over lake to green with jungle three sides check wind carefully. Some out of play homes on front side with beautiful mountain views and lush OBs along each hole. Back nine drops down into canyon like settings with more undulation, split fairways, gullies and narrowing requiring more consistency hitting proper locations. Seemed at least one worrisome shot per hole gratifying when successful repeating if not! Scenery extremely hard to concentrate on golf. Oh no here comes rain #13 fast mode aim center green quick hit putt out run back to cart next hole. Rain stopped #18 what a blast sun on green finished last 6 holes 2 under! Wonderfully fun course with great conditions (excepting greens) will certainly play next visit and try restaurant which had an ongoing function when I finished round.

Kukuilono is a local favorite course also having several walking trails & gardens, dramatic ocean views and Pacos Tacos in clubhouse. Regulation has 3 tee sets and each hole has a par 3 tee for short game play. Wind on this ridge top layout is main defense as the few traps didn’t look well maintained. Course had wide full mixed grass fairways and rough coverage going off into jungle for wild or wind blown shots (par 3 #6 plus 3-4 clubs). Greens coming out of maintenance some sandy & slow some quick with movement made putting interesting at times. Several holes following uphill or downhills with grassy gullies and a couple wicked par threes one steep long uphill with large tree left drop off right the other must carry deep gorge to green into wind with anything short or right lost. This course was very fun playing we tried again on a Sunday but unusually crowded with a tournament and locals out. Golf 15, cart 15, decent clubs 10 and grass range 5 easy choice for enjoyable nine holes. Sunday did their 9 hole mini grass course twice (5 all day inc putter/ball) actually quite fun was nicely mown bordering rough tough with hills, doglegs and side slopes. Had distances in feet (525’ total par 36) was well maintained and shaded. Staff friendly and funny with Pacos Tacos having great food, cold beverages and service. Really liked this course, the park, walking trails and facilities.

Played uncrowded Kiahuna weekday afternoon with golf, cart, gps, range and new unused Calloway Elyte set for a couple hundred dollars. Grass range nearby and large practice green headed toward first hole. Started on white tees in light breeze moving up to silver late back nine when hitting into increased winds. Fairways were mostly wide having some undulation with large trees, rock walls, lakes & stream to maneuver over or around. Only in one trap ample coarse sand noted others looked fine also. Greens coming out of maintenance some better some not mostly slow but was told beforehand. Very nice homes out of play along a few holes with more under construction. Clubhouse staff, marshal and starter all friendly and nice selection of local brews for after round. Recommend Kiahuna for an enjoyable leisurely round with Poipu ocean course nearby at more than double my setup fees.

Played Soboba Tuesday and Wednesday mid mornings well behind early groups with nobody following. Temperatures rose into upper 90s both days but light breeze was welcomed. Senior rate 70 included warmup balls and nice cart with ice and gps.
Several tee boxes and fairways had recently been punched especially areas that had dry yellow color. Just rolled ball out of holes to suitable spot though some lies were very tight. Not much rough here as fairways mainly wide with a few holes 2”-3” if cutting off doglegs or between adjacent holes. Trees, sand, water and side slopes make staying in fairway imperative. Was in several traps all had ample white sand that was well maintained. Smooth greens rolled medium fast speed with subtle breaks besides the obvious with pin locations changed daily. Fortunately only had to repair a few ball marks other than mine on the receptive greens as they were easy to stick and stay below the pins on mostly steep back to front slopes. Soboba conditions were enjoyable for me to play since the course was so wide open noticed a lot of maintenance was ongoing too. Start to finish check in, practice putting, range and unhurried play with water and shade stops was about 4 hours each day. Not rated due to ongoing maintenance.

We stayed in a de Anza course home last Wednesday to Saturday with extremely hot weather. Course open Thurs thru Sunday having recent greens aeration/sanding had me playing two putts max. Other than greens entire course was in terrific condition lush fairways with rough about 1”, plenty of raked white sand bunkers and flat tee boxes with crews out every day. Reduced fee of 29 included golf, cart, ice, grass range (new balls), trap/pitch area friendly staff and bighorn sheep grazing. I went out Thursday & Friday after warm up 7:30 done before 10. Saw only 1 couple about four holes ahead first day but weather was 90 to 107 that day and although cooler Friday didn’t notice anyone else out. Pro shop intact but main clubhouse burned down and County is reviewing rebuild plans. Was a fun trip stayed cool enough on course using chilly towels and plenty of ice water while playing fairly quickly. Most holes have large trees to shade tee boxes, along fairways and around greens. House pool and AC the rest of the day into nite. Would have tried Rams Hill but it is closed for course wide maintenance most of July.

Drove out to Hesperia yesterday as single about 7:40 with wife along to drive nice cart and call out gps distances. Course is so green couldn’t believe we were in the desert. Heavy watering on first few holes with abundant maintenance ongoing. Longer course had me finding 7 raked traps with damp heavy sand that all played well no footprints! Rough was being mowed about 1” longer than wide well groomed fairways. Watering limited rollout. Greens were nice fast pace early becoming very fast as warming. Bent grass held shots leaving mostly shallow dents with most being previously repaired. Was an enjoyable outing which began slowing the last few holes finishing 3hrs & 20 minutes. Temps low 70s to high 80s without any wind. 35 senior rate recommend if heat not excessive.

Played Wednesday noon (AZ time vs 11:00 NV & CA) high 20+ constant wind green fairways with dormant short rough. Lesser conditioning than Mojave but easily playable. Some fairways slower to take overseed and a few areas thin to bare (painted green) but roped off or marked GUR. Tee boxes all good and greens rolled smooth medium to quick speed in the dry windy weather. Rough 1 to 1 1/2” but thin to nonexistent in some areas mostly outside normal play except when playing in high wind. Fun trying to compensate how far OB to hit shots to have wind blow back onto fairways especially out over lakes. Several extra clubs into wind with low 4 iron bump and runs preferable to lofted shots. Very long drives possible with wind & firm ground. Two and half hour round after grass range and smaller practice green was another enjoyable experience this trip.

Drove out to Avi Tuesday went to course moderate crowd 11:30 10-12 mph wind mid 70s. Warmed up on range then off as single. Overseeded green fairways outlined by dormant rough. Found a few fairway areas had thin new growth on vert cut grooves making for tighter lies there but not hard pan to hit from. Greens smooth medium fast with few unrepaired marks. Caught a twosome ahead moving quickly enough for my pace. At 10 had ten minute wait to tee off assumed a short backup due to stops at the turn. 11 found twosome waiting on struggling threesome. Went left played par 3 17 then back to 11. Played it twice and cut across to 16 ahead of a foursome for last three holes finished around 3:15. Overall a nice outing with good conditions and into wind only an extra club on a few holes. Always enjoy playing this course and my rating should have been bit higher.

Took dad golfing for his 98th birthday Monday 10:45. Played yellow tees on nice busy day in a light breeze. For cruiser very good conditions from tee to green. Some bumpy gopher areas to slow down the newer carts in fairways but very green, trimmed to hit from with ample rollout. Rough slightly longer being thin in cart/mower travelled areas around edges. Greens had better medium speeds and were quite smooth compared to previous visits with far fewer ball marks. Dad beat me by a stroke after I three putted the final hole. Friendly golf shop, new range balls, very fast practice greens and Take 5ive Grille food/beverages tasty and cold. We had a fun outing.

Used Golf Moose coupon 50 vs 89 course rate Wednesday mid morning. Tees flat no divots neatly trimmed. Fairways watered and Monday rains fully reduced runout and distance besides the elevation factor but were very green with only a few yellow spots and nice to hit from. Funny grass on these greens that looks matted down some dark green others grayish green and firm. They roll smoothly at medium speeds and break less than appearance one green only half grass but has been that way for a few years pin always in front not a problem. Not in any of the few traps but they looked to contain ample heavy grained sand. Very few others out on a nice day 76 and windless off at 9:50 done at 12:00. Recommended for a relaxed scenic round.

Staying about an hour away used Golf Moose for two with wife driving clean cart for a couple dollars above single rate but included range so worth the extra to warm up. Well stocked pro shop open with mask use considered a personal choice, bar available as was restaurant with food brought out to waiting carts (was told that Siskiyou County has a very low Covid rate). Small elevated range had a dozen matt stalls on Thursday 8/27 while the grass area recovered. Smoke from fires restricted views of Mount Shasta but was high enough not to smell. This Robert Trent Jones Sr & Jr resort design was well laid out and the housing set back from play. Many must be year round residences with the huge wood piles stacked alongside the golf view homes. Entire course was very well maintained with lush wide fairways, flat tees, ample rough 1- 1 1/2" to keep most wayward shots on course vs lost to OB thick forest scrub and smooth fast 11.5-12 greens with hidden breaks. Lots of crushed volcanic red granular sand bunkers protecting greens that looked opposing but made easy out of two steep greensides. Heavy red sand which blended visually with the surroundings held up well from play without rakes and pins had pool noodle foam in them. Several lakes to maneuver around or over also a couple narrow tree lined fairways and dogleg corners had large pine trees or trap protection. Mainly flatter course with a few elevated tee boxes, some rolling fairways with lifted or tilting greens. Grass was well watered green but firm having a bit of rollout, divots filled (sand bottles on carts) and the greens were void of marks. Played through three twosome couples that were having a fun time hitting balls around finally catching a local five some on the 17th green. Pace was fine teeing off at 11:20 finishing at 2:40 with temperature in the mid 90's. Slim to no cell service throughout the entire area had to wait to post until home today.

First time out in a long time wanted something easily accessible on a very hot mid morning. Played front 9 twice as last single cart out at 9:40. Like Webers review tees and fairways fine, greens smooth if a little slow and one greenside bunker heavy wet dirt. Caught solid 4somes about 7th which slowed quite a bit through front 9 just went back through real quick to finish at 12:20. 88 at start 105 at finish and very humid. Always have a fun round here either course.